Helpful tips for cleaning and maintaining laminate floors

When it comes down to choosing between hardwood floors and laminate floors, clients are often faced with a tough decision. While hardwood remains the traditional favorite, the best laminate flooring retains the warmth and coziness of hardwood while boasting of one tremendous advantage: laminate floors are much easier to clean and maintain when compared to hardwood floors. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering how to clean laminate floors.

Hardwood floors are easily susceptible to fading in sunlight, taking damage from scratches or dents and staining. Laminate floors are made of a combination of materials put together through a unique lamination process that ensures that the top transparent layer remains durable and tough.

When helping your clients in selecting the best laminate, it is important to select brands that pass stringent performance tests and earn the Certification Seal from the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA). The NALFA seal asserts that the laminate has passed guidelines for resistance to light, stains, weight, water and other factors. A product such as Georgetown, from Mohawk Industries, is an example of a NALFA certified laminate.

To prevent cleaning headaches, proper maintenance from the beginning is a good idea. The main concern would be to avoid letting dust, dirt or moisture accumulate over an extended period of time. Regular vacuuming or sweeping is usually enough to keep the floor clean, one of the benefits of using laminate flooring. Additionally, these green cleaning methods for laminate do not require the use of much water or any wax, detergents or other cleaning agents.

In fact, one of the most important things to keep in mind about laminate is that it doesn't require wax, varnish, or wood polish to keep it looking bright and clean. Waxes and soap detergents will leave an unsightly residue on your client's floor while wood polish will dull the finish and make the walking surface slippery. Again, the absence of these products will make for a more environmentally-friendly cleaning and maintenance process.

Finally, to prevent scratches and dents on the floor, steer your clients clear from using abrasive cleaners or steel wool. The harsh exteriors of these cleaning products will likely scratch the floor. When laying furniture, avoid dents by placing soft felt pads under the feet, especially when moving and placing heavy furniture.

Using these cleaning and maintenance tips for laminates will ensure that the floors remain attractive, durable and comfortable for a long time.